(Image courtesy of Great Wolf Lodge)

By Maryann Hammmers

Boredom is not an option at these entertaining destinations.

Temecula, Calif.

 

Pechanga Resort Casino in Temecula has 4,000 slots, a 43-table poker room, a 700-seat bingo facility, nightlife, entertainment, 20 restaurants and bars, a spa, and a 4.5-acre pool complex with lagoon and waterslides. Active duty and retired military members get a 10-percent discount on the resort’s luxury accommodations. Call (888) 732-4264.

Branson, Mo.

For music, live entertainment, family attractions, and military discounts, you can’t do better than Branson. And when it comes to honoring military members, Branson pulls out all the stops with military celebrations, parades, a military film festival, and military exhibits and memorials.

The area’s hotels offer discounts of up to 20 percent — choose from luxury accommodations like Chateau on the Lake, family-friendly resorts like Grand Country Resort, or popular chain hotels like Best Western, Clarion Hotel, Comfort Inn, Days Inn, Quality Inn, La Quinta Inn Branson Strip, Marriott’s Willow Ridge Lodge, Hilton Branson Convention Center, and Wyndham. Prefer a vacation home or condo? Amazing Branson Rentals will give you 10 percent off your nightly rate (use code MIL).

You’ll also find military discounts on top attractions (such as Hollywood Wax Museum, Ripley’s Believe It or Not, and the Titanic Museum), shops, shows (like Dolly Parton's Stampede), and amusement parks (like Silver Dollar City and White Water). Even restaurants and rental cars are discounted.

Branson offers too many military discounts to list all of them, but you can read all about them here.

Las Vegas

 

Caesar’s Entertainment offers a 10-percent discount to active duty or retired servicemembers at any of its casinos in the U.S., including Las Vegas resorts Caesars Palace, Harrah’s, Flamingo, Bally’s, Paris, Planet Hollywood, The LINQ, The Cromwell, and Rio. The discount is in addition to any other promotions or discounts on your stay. You’ll also enjoy complimentary or discounted dining, spa services, entertainment, attractions, and shopping.

If you sign up for the Total Rewards Salute card — available to active duty and retired servicemembers, National Guard and Reserve members, and veterans — you’ll get extra discounts on rooms, upgrades, and other perks. All the details are here.

Nationwide

 

Great Wolf Lodge — North America’s largest chain of indoor water park resorts — has 14 locations, from Anaheim to Atlanta and Boston to Bloomington. Activities and attractions here are kid-centered, whether it’s shows or story time. Active duty and retired military personnel get up to 30 percent off with the Howling Heroes discount, and free water park passes are included. Use promo code HEROES when booking online, and show your valid military ID at check-in. Room rates vary by property and time of year.